By Anonymous
Volunteers who have served Norwood for more than 20 years were among the 200 people at a House of Lords reception to thank those who perform a range of unpaid duties for the charity.
Muriel Kauffer, Pat Kipps, Joyce Senker and Sandra Young were among the volunteering veterans at the event,
Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks said: "This Big Society that people talk about and don't really understand is something that is second nature for the Jewish community.
"I can't tell you how important it is for people who find it sometimes quite difficult to care for themselves that the community is there for them in individual, patient, smiling faces - people who give them their time and really make their world light up."
Norwood chair Bernie Myers said its 800 volunteers were "a vital resource. Quite simply, without them we would not be able to provide the quality of services and function in the way that the community expects and needs."
The charity benefited from 32,000 hours of volunteer assistance last year and values the time given at £360,000.
Volunteers drive an estimated 25,000 miles annually in support of service users.